Fall 2026 Litigation Intern

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.•Chicago, IL

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions. Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.). Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org Responsibilities NRDC is seeking a class of Fall Litigation Interns to work with the lawyers associated with our Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. office(s). The Litigation Team is a group of approximately 40 lawyers, paralegals, and other operations staff who pursue litigation across a broad range of environmental and public health issues, in collaboration with and on behalf of communities most impacted by environmental injustices (including Black, indigenous, and people of color, and low-income and rural communities). Over the past five years, we have litigated cases against the federal government to prevent climate pollution, challenge agency approvals of toxic chemicals and pesticides, resist the suspension of clean water safeguards, oppose offshore drilling and seismic exploration for oil and gas, defend national monuments, and protect energy efficiency standards, among other matters. We also bring enforcement cases against corporate and governmental entities whose violations harm human health and the environment—including to protect the people of Newark, New Jersey and Flint, Michigan, from lead in drinking water; to remediate toxic pollution in the Penobscot River in Maine; to abate mold in New York City public housing for residents with asthma; and to halt air pollution from a coal-fired power plant in Illinois. Litigation interns play an active role on the frontlines to protect our planet and the communities that depend on it. Our interns do concrete work in support of our litigation, including substantive writing and research, and collaborate with NRDC Litigation attorneys. This internship is a paid position with a total stipend of $4,000 for 140 hours of work. Interns may choose one of the following scheduling options: 7 weeks at 20 hours per week 10 weeks at 14 hours per week 14 weeks at 10 hours per week Start and end dates and other scheduling details are negotiable, but we look for a minimum time commitment of two days (14 hours) a week over the course of an academic term. The posting will remain open until May 8, 2026. Offers will be made on a rolling basis; we strongly encourage you to apply early in our review period.

Requirements

This internship is designed for law school students who will be in their second (2L) or third year (3L) of a J.D. program or in an LLM program during fall 2026.
Strong legal writing, analytical, and oral communication skills
Experience effectively working on a team
Creativity and resourcefulness
Commitment to public service, equity, and justice
Growth mindset and openness to feedback
Demonstrated ability to work with people across different social identities and backgrounds
Record of academic and/or professional accomplishment.
Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles

Responsibilities

Researching and preparing legal memos in support of rulemaking proceedings
Litigation case development, and active litigation and rulemaking proceedings
Interviewing NRDC members and preparing standing declarations
Helping draft and review portions of pleadings and review briefs
Helping prepare comments to submit to administrative agencies or legislative bodies
Helping craft proposed legislation to address environmental and public health problems

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